Climate Change Communication
Examining the Social and Cognitive Barriers to Productive Environmental Communication
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10764907 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sonia Hélène Merkel (University of Oklahoma), Angela M Person (0000-0002-8345-7502, University of Oklahoma, corresponding author), Randy A Peppler (0000-0002-0625-4365, University of Oklahoma), Sarah M Melcher (University of Oklahoma) |
| Year | 2020 |
| Volume | 101 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 2085-2100 |
| Publication date | 2020-09-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Social Science Quarterly (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0038-4941 • E-ISSN: 1540-6237 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/ssqu.12843 |
| OpenAlex | W3042625231 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 5 |
| References cited | 16 |
Objectives . This study explores the efficacy of visual appeals that may be used to communicate environmental risk. Methods . To better understand the social and cognitive barriers present in environmental risk communication associated with climate change, we conducted a series of six focus groups. Groups were asked to view images of environmental issues and select the best representation of their feelings out of a range of preselected emotions. While further research is required, preliminary investigation based on the focus groups suggests several themes. Results . First, an individual's familiarity with both an area and an event will decrease the individual's perception of urgency; conversely, the participants expressed greater concern for events that were local and new—in other words, familiarity diminishes urgency, while emergent problems create alacrity. Second, participants expressed a sentiment of tacit blame, in which the participant's own contribution to the issue received less emphasis when ascribing fault. Last, the participants reacted positively toward messages that emphasized a hopeful and solution‐based narrative and were seemingly less motivated by images that relied on fear‐based messaging. Conclusions . Preliminary findings suggest that hopeful, solution‐based messaging may be more effective in facilitating pro‐environmental behavior than either fear‐ or guilt‐based appeals
Blame · Cognition · Cognitive psychology · Feeling · Focus group · Narrative · Perception · Sociology · Applied Psychology · Climate Change Communication and Perception · Environmental Education and Sustainability · Psychology · Risk Perception and Management · Social Psychology
Basics of qualitative research
Communicating climate change risks in a skeptical world
The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change
Sixty years of fear appeal research
Paris Agreement climate proposals need a boost to keep warming well below 2 °C
The polarizing impact of science literacy and numeracy on perceived climate change risks
Putting the fear back into fear appeals
Using constant comparison method and qualitative data to understand participants' experiences at the nexus of tourism, sport and charity events
Barriers perceived to engaging with climate change among the UK public and their policy implications
Fear Won't Do It
The Constant Comparative Method of Qualitative Analysis
A Qualitative Framework for Collecting and Analyzing Data in Focus Group Research
| Citations per year | 1.25 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2022 - 2026 (5) |
| Highly cited | No |